Recording medium, method and apparatus of controlling data reproduce from recording medium

ABSTRACT

A recording medium, method and apparatus of controlling data reproduce from recording medium are disclosed. In an optical recording and reproducing apparatus controlling display of an external input signal and an internal optical disc reproducing signal, when a plurality of active programs corresponding to each signal attribute is provided, and when a desired display mode is decided, a display control method within a recording medium reproducing device includes generating at least one control command (Call API) so as to execute a reproducing engine suitable for the decided display mode among the at least one reproducing engine, thereby enhancing mutual compatibility between a newly standardized high density optical disc (BD) and peripheral apparatuses and providing more efficient and convenient functions to users.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a recording medium, and moreparticularly, to a recording medium, method and apparatus of controllingdata reproduce from recording medium. Although the present invention issuitable for displaying signals that are inputted from sources differentfrom one another onto a single screen.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, digital technology has developed with the advent of anoutstanding growth and development in the compression technology andtransmission technology of digital information and the advent of digitalbroadcasting (hereinafter referred to as “DTV”), which applies suchcompression and transmission technologies. Furthermore, a new type ofhigh density recording medium, such as the Blu-ray disc (hereinafterreferred to as “BD”) for adopting high definition and large capacitydigital broadcasting is also being under development. A global standardfor the technical specification of the blu-ray disc (BD), which is anext generation high density recording medium technology, is beingestablished along with the recent digital broadcasting technology.Herein, the blu-ray disc is considered to be a next generation opticalrecording solution that is capable of having data significantlysurpassing the conventional DVD. Accordingly, optical recording andreproducing apparatuses adopting the blu-ray disc standard are alsobeing manufactured and developed.

Most particularly, in the above-described optical recording andreproducing apparatus, the basic function(s) of reproducing therecording medium, as well as additional functions taking into account acombined usage with related peripheral digital apparatuses are/is beingconsidered. Thus, generally, the optical recording and reproducingapparatus must be provided with functions of either receiving digitalbroadcast signals and displaying the received digital broadcast signals,or recording the digital signals within a built-in recording medium.However, in the blu-ray disc (BD) that is currently being proposed, aunified standard for achieving such functions are yet to be developed,thereby causing limitations in creating blu-ray disc (BD)-based opticalrecording and reproducing apparatuses. And, accordingly, there may lieproblems in reproducing (or displaying) information onto a screen,wherein the information are inputted from an external source andreproduced from the built-in recording medium.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

An object of the present invention devised to solve the problem lies onproviding a recording medium, method and apparatus of controlling datareproduce from recording medium that can substantially obviate one ormore problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

Another object of the present invention devised to solve the problemlies on providing a recording medium, method and apparatus ofcontrolling data reproduce from recording medium that can reproduce incombination external input data inputted to an optical recording andreproducing apparatus and internal recording medium data.

Another object of the present invention devised to solve the problemlies on providing a recording medium, method and apparatus ofcontrolling data reproduce from recording medium that can provide adisplay control command, which is used in an optical recording andreproducing apparatus, as a set of standardized information, therebyproviding mutual compatibility.

A further object of the present invention devised to solve the problemlies on providing a recording medium, method and apparatus ofcontrolling data reproduce from recording medium that use a standardizeddisplay control command, thereby providing an efficient display.

The object of the present invention can be achieved by providing inreproducing a set of external input data and a set of internal recordingmedium data, a reproducing method of a recording medium reproducingdevice including steps of selecting at least one of the set of externalinput data and the set of internal recording medium data, executing atleast one reproducing engine so as to reproduce the selected data inaccordance with an attribute of the selected data, and displaying thedata reproduced through the reproducing engine.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is, inreproducing a set of external input data and a set of internal recordingmedium data, a reproducing method of a recording medium reproducingdevice including a selection unit selecting at least one set of theexternal input data and the internal recording medium data as inputsignal, at least one reproducing engine reproducing the selected data inaccordance with an attribute of the selected data, and a controllertransmitting a control command to the selection unit, so as to selectthe input signal, when a desired display mode is decided, andtransmitting another control command so as to execute a reproducingengine suitable for the decided display mode among the at least onereproducing engine.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is, in amethod of controlling display of a set of external input data and a setof internal recording medium data, a display control method within arecording medium reproducing device including steps of providing aplurality of reproducing engines corresponding to each attribute of aset of data being reproduced, and when a desired display mode isdecided, generating at least one control command (Call API) so as toexecute a reproducing engine suitable for the decided display mode amongthe at least one reproducing engine.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is, in arecording medium reproducing device provided with a plurality ofreproducing engines corresponding to each attribute of a set of databeing reproduced, so as to control display of the data being reproduced,a display control method within a recording medium reproducing deviceincluding steps of providing a user-selectable display mode, when therecording medium is loaded, and when executing a specific display modein accordance with a user-selection, generating at least one controlcommand (Call API) so as to execute a reproducing engine suitable forthe user-selected display mode among the at least one reproducingengine.

In another aspect of the present invention, provided herein is, an arecording medium reproducing device provided with a plurality ofreproducing engines corresponding to each attribute of a set of databeing reproduced, so as to control display of the data being reproduced,a display control method within a recording medium reproducing deviceincluding steps of receiving a display mode change command duringreproduction of the recording medium, and depending upon a newly desireddisplay mode, generating at least one control command (Call API) so asto execute a reproducing engine suitable for the display mode changecommand among the at least one reproducing engine.

In a further aspect of the present invention, provided herein is, in arecording medium including an area for recording main data and an areafor recording menu information corresponding to the main data, therecording medium including a display menu recorded in the menuinformation, so as to enable a user to select a display mode for a setof external input data and also for the main data recorded in therecording medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention, illustrate embodiments of the inventionand together with the description serve to explain the principle of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a general view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a reproducing device in an optical recording andreproducing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a reproducing method of display Mode Aand reproducing device in the optical recording and reproducingapparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates another example of a reproducing method of displayMode C and reproducing device in the optical recording and reproducingapparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a screen structure of display Mode B and possibledisplay types in the optical recording and reproducing apparatusaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a reproducing method and device of the display Mode Btype (1) in the optical recording and reproducing apparatus according tothe present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a reproducing method and device of the display Mode Btype (2) in the optical recording and reproducing apparatus according tothe present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a reproducing method and device of the display Mode Btype (3) in the optical recording and reproducing apparatus according tothe present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a reproducing method and device of the display Mode Btype (4) in the optical recording and reproducing apparatus according tothe present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a table showing examples of control commands (CallAPI) for controlling display in the optical recording and reproducingapparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a structure of the recording mediumaccording to the present invention and a menu screen recorded within therecording medium.

FIG. 12 illustrates a control process of a display mode selected fromthe menu screen in the optical recording and reproducing apparatusaccording to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In addition,although the terms used in the present invention are selected fromgenerally known and used terms, some of the terms mentioned in thedescription of the present invention have been selected by the applicantat his or her discretion, the detailed meanings of which are describedin relevant parts of the description herein. Furthermore, it is requiredthat the present invention is understood, not simply by the actual termsused but by the meaning of each term lying within.

In this detailed description, “recording medium” refers to all types ofmedium that can record or have already recorded data and broadlyincludes all types of medium regardless of the recording method, such asan optical disc, a magnetic tape, and so on. Hereinafter, for simplicityof the description of the present invention, the optical disc and, morespecifically, the “read-only blu-ray disc (BD)” will be given as anexample of the recording medium proposed herein. However, it will beapparent that the spirit or scope of the present invention may beequally applied to other types of recording medium.

FIG. 1 illustrates a general view of the present invention, which showsan example of a combined usage between an optical recording andreproducing apparatus 10 and peripheral apparatuses. The opticalrecording and reproducing apparatus 10 according to the presentinvention is an apparatus for recording and reproducing optical discs ofvarious standards (or sizes). The optical recording and reproducingapparatus 10 may also be designed to record and reproduce an opticaldisc of a specific standard (e.g., a blu-ray disc (BD)). Alternatively,the apparatus may also be designed to only have a reproducing functionand no recording function. However, considering the completion of theblu-ray disc (BD) standard and its connection with the peripheralapparatuses, a BD-Player reproducing the read-only blu-ray disc (BD),which is recorded in accordance with the blu-ray disc (BD) format, willbe used as an example in the description of the present invention.Accordingly, it is apparent that the optical recording and reproducingapparatus 10 according to the present invention may also be adopted in a“drive”, which can be mounted in computers.

Also, in the present invention, a “reproducing device of a recordingmedium” refers to a type of device that is provided in the opticalrecording and reproducing apparatus 10 and that performs a reproducingmethod according to the present invention. More specifically, apart fromthe function of recording and reproducing an optical disc, the opticalrecording and reproducing apparatus 10 according to the presentinvention also receives external signals, processes the receivedsignals, and provides the processed signals to the users by transmittingthe processed signals to a screen through another external display 20.In this case, there are no limitations in the external signals that canbe inputted, wherein the external input signals mainly consist ofdigital broadcasting (DTV) signals, Internet signals, and so on. Mostparticularly, the DTV signals are high definition, high capacity signalscorresponding to the blu-ray disc (BD), and the two media areco-dependent to one another. Therefore, the DTV signals are consideredto be the most important external input signals. Hereinafter, theexternal input signal will be referred to as the DTV signal and internalplayback signals will be referred to as the blu-ray disc (BD)reproduction (or playback) signal for simplicity. Furthermore, it isapparent that various modifications and variations can be made in thepresent invention without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention.

Each of the DTV signal and the blu-ray disc (BD) playback signal largelyincludes two types of data forms, which are an “AV stream” form and an“enhanced data” form. More specifically, the “AV stream” refers toaudio/video (AV) contents providing audio and video data, such as movies(or motion pictures), and the “enhanced data” refers to data contentsthat transmit information. The “AV stream” of the DTV signal usuallyrefers to moving image data transmitted from broadcast stations, andmost particularly, to receiving data compressed to an MPEG-2 format,which is transmitted in the form of a signal through a specifictransmission method (e.g., VSB, OFDM, etc.). Herein, the signal isreceived through a tuner (not shown) of the optical recording andreproducing apparatus 10, wherein the signal is processed, and then, theprocessed signal is provided to the user through a display 20.Evidently, the “AV stream” may also be directly received at the display20 without having to pass through the optical recording and reproducingapparatus 10. However, since such instance does not lie within the scopeof the present invention, detailed description of the same will beomitted.

Furthermore, the “enhanced data” of the DTV signal refers to a type ofdata broadcasting that includes information characteristic of digitalbroadcasting, and more specifically, all types of information that canbe transmitted in the form of data, such as news information, stockinformation, sports relay through SMS, daily broadcast programinformation, and so on. Herein, the “enhanced data” of the DTV signalmay be an additional (or auxiliary) data broadcast signal of the “AVstream” that is currently being broadcasted. Alternatively, the“enhanced data” of the DTV signal may also be a data broadcast signalthat is irrelevant (or independent) from the “AV stream” that iscurrently being broadcasted.

In addition, the “AV stream” and “enhanced data” of the BD playbacksignal either refer to information that are created by recording the “AVstream” and “enhanced data” of the DTV signal within the BD andreproducing the recorded data, or refer to the “AV stream” and “enhanceddata” differentiated and recorded accordingly by the BD manufacturerupon the fabrication of the read-only blu-ray disc (BD). Accordingly,the “enhanced data” may be recorded to provide additional informationthat improves the additional value of the “AV stream” in a graphic form.Alternatively, when the “enhanced data” is an application emphasizingreciprocal communication with the user, such as a game, the “enhanceddata” is used and applied to ensure interactivity with the user. Morespecifically, the “XTML” and the “Java Program” are the most widelyknown technologies that can enable such interactivity.

Most particularly, the “enhanced data” from the Java program isreproduced by a Java Module, which is a reproducing engine that is onlyused for the Java Program. Herein, the Java Module is generallyprogrammed to control the reproduction of AV streams. Therefore,depending upon a user-selection or depending upon pre-programmedenforced demands (or requests), such as in some particular cases, theoptical recording and reproducing apparatus 10 selectively reproducesthe AV stream and the enhanced data. Then, the reproduced data may beprovided to a screen through the display 20.

FIG. 2 illustrates a general view of a method for reproducing an inputsignal and a reproducing device in the optical recording and reproducingapparatus 10 according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2,the related art decoding process of processing signals and recoveringthe AV stream and the enhanced data will be omitted for simplicity ofthe description. However, the characteristics of the decoding processare clearly illustrated in the reproducing method and device accordingto the present invention.

When a user-selection command exists or when a BD disc manufacturerpre-programs and forcibly requests specific matters (hereinaftercollectively referred to as an “Author request”), the optical recordingand reproducing apparatus 10 according to the present invention decidesa display mode (i.e., Mode A, Mode B, and Mode C) based upon suchcommand or request. Then, a control command for selecting a specificsignal among a plurality of input signals is transmitted to a selectionunit 11. Further, the optical recording and reproducing apparatus 10transmits the control command for executing an active program (alsoreferred to as a “tool”), which displays the decided input signal, to areproducing engine 12 to which a plurality of active programs isprovided. Accordingly, each of the active programs (or tools) may becomean individual reproducing engine for reproducing information of aspecific attribute.

In addition, prior to finally transmitting signals to the display 20,the optical recording and reproducing apparatus 10 also transmits acontrol command to a display pre-processing unit 13 so as to pre-processsignals. This process will now be described in more detail. Theselection unit 11 selects a specific signal among a plurality of signalsdepending upon an input signal selection control command received fromthe controller. More specifically, the selection unit 11 includes afirst selection means 11 a selecting an AV stream from one of the DTVsignal and the BD playback signal, and a second selection means 12 aselecting a set of enhanced data from one of the DTV signal and the BDplayback signal. However, in FIG. 2, each of the individual selectionmeans 11 a and 11 b has been illustrated for simplicity of thedescription, and it is apparent that a single integrated selection unit11 can be used in an actual application.

A plurality of active programs is provided to the reproducing engine 12,which executes specific active programs corresponding to specificsignals depending upon the control command from the controller 14. Morespecifically, the control command that is transmitted from thecontroller 14 to the reproducing engine 12 is referred to as a “CallApplication Protocol Interface (API)”. Herein, the Call API includes aseries of command language designating a specific active program that ischosen to be executed among each of the active program (or tool)included therein. A detailed description of the command language willfollow in a later process. Also, the reproducing engine 12 largelyincludes an AV presentation engine 12 a and a browser/viewer 12 b.

The AV presentation engine 12 a is an active program (or tool) fordisplaying the AV stream, and the browser/viewer 12 b is an activeprogram (or tool) for displaying the enhanced data. In addition, theabove-described Java module, which processes the enhanced data of theJava program, is also another type of reproducing engine. The terms usedfor the active programs according to the present invention will now bedescribed in detail. The AV presentation engine 12 a may be used as anactive program for reproducing the AV stream and also as an AV playerfor reproducing moving images and sound. For example, the activeprograms include programs, such as the “Window_Media_Player” or the“Real_Player”, which are currently being widely used among generalpersonal computers (PCs), and other active programs corresponding tosuch types of programs. Therefore, the AV presentation engine 12 a maybe programmed or named differently depending upon the standard appliedto the signal that is to be actually executed.

The browser/viewer 12 b is referred to as a “browser” when contentsconsisting of a mark-up language, such as HTML, are displayed. And, thebrowser/viewer 12 b is referred to as a “viewer” or a “Java Module”, asdescribed above, when enhanced contents such as Java programs aredisplayed. However, different terms may be used depending upon the usageenvironment or the user, and therefore, in the description of thepresent invention, the active program (or tool) executing the enhanceddata, and not the AV stream, will be collectively referred to as the“browser”. In the present invention, active programs operating assoftware were given as examples of the reproducing engine 12. However,such active programs may also operate as hardware, the description ofwhich is also included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

The display pre-processing unit 13 processes signals prior totransmitting the display mode (i.e., Mode A, Mode B, and Mode C), whichis decided from the controller 14, to the display. The displaypre-processing unit 13 also adjusts the size of the display 20, thedisplay position, and so on. More specifically, the present invention isdesigned to effectively reproduce input data of different attributes,and providing the reproduced data to a single screen in accordance witha selected display mode (i.e., Mode A, Mode B, and Mode C), which willnow be described in detail. In other words, the display Mode A onlydisplays the AV stream, wherein the display Mode A displays the AVstream onto the entire display 20 screen by using the reproduced (orplayed-back) signals, when no other specific command exists. Also, thedisplay Mode C only displays the enhanced data, wherein the display ModeC displays the enhanced data onto the entire display 20 screen, when noother command exists. Finally, unlike the display Mode A and the displayMode C, the display Mode B displays the AV stream on a portion of thedisplay 20 screen and displays the enhanced data on the remainingportion of the display 20 screen. Generally, the enhanced data isdisplayed as the background, and the AV stream is displayed through awindow within the screen.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the basic operations of the present inventioninclude deciding the display mode in accordance with a user command oran “Author request” recorded within the optical recording andreproducing apparatus 10, selecting an input signal for playback fromthe controller 14, executing a specific active program (or reproducingengine) in accordance with the attribute of the selected input signal,and finally, controlling a series of processes for adjusting thereproduced data so as to be suitably displayed on the screen.Accordingly, a “Call API” is commonly used as the control command forexecuting the specific active program, thereby facilitating the controlof the active programs.

Moreover, the external input signal is downloaded from the opticalrecording and reproducing apparatus 10. And, in order to use suchdownloaded signal along with the optical disc within the apparatus, astorage means is required so as to store the external input signalwithin the optical recording and reproducing apparatus 10. Herein, thestorage means is, more specifically, referred to as a local storage.Accordingly, when the local storage is not provided in the opticalrecording and reproducing apparatus 10, the external input signal may bereproduced (or played-back) without being stored separately. However,when the local storage is provided in the optical recording andreproducing apparatus 10, the reproducing method of the external inputsignal may become identical to the internal optical disc playbacksignal, or the external input signal and the internal optical discplayback signal may be reproduced (or played-back) in combination (orbound to one another). Therefore, it is preferable to the opticalrecording and reproducing apparatus 10 is equipped with the localstorage.

Hereinafter, the reproduction method and device for each of display ModeA, display Mode B, and display Mode C will now be described in detailwith reference to FIGS. 3 to 10. FIG. 3 illustrates the reproductionmethod and device for the display Mode A according to the presentinvention. As described above, the display Mode A reproduces only the AVstream onto the screen, and FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the AVstream being displayed from the blu-ray disc (BD). The controller 14selects the display Mode A, and when the input signal is decided as theBD playback signal, the selection means 11 a is controlled to select andreproduce (or play-back) only the BD AV stream. Thereafter, a controlcommand (Call API) “BD_AV_Player( )” is transmitted to the reproducingengine 12, thereby operating a tool for displaying the BD AV streamamong the active programs provided in the reproducing engine 12. In thiscase, the active program (or tool) being operated is called a “BD AVPlayback control engine”. Alternatively, when the display Mode A isdecided, and when the input signal is decided as a DTV signal, a controlcommand (Call API) “DTV_AV_Player( )” is transmitted to the reproducingengine 12, thereby operating a tool for displaying the DTV AV streamamong the active programs provided in the reproducing engine 12. In thiscase, the active program (or tool) being operated is called a “DTV AVPresentation engine”.

FIG. 4 illustrates the reproduction method and device for display Mode Caccording to the present invention. As described above, the display ModeC reproduces only the enhanced data onto the screen, and FIG. 4illustrates an example of the enhanced data being displayed from theblu-ray disc (BD). The controller 14 selects the display Mode C, andwhen the input signal is decided as the BD playback signal, theselection means 11 b is controlled to select and reproduce (orplay-back) only the BD enhanced data. Thereafter, a control command(Call API) “BD_Enhanced_Browser( )” is transmitted to the reproducingengine 12, thereby operating a tool for displaying the BD enhanced dataamong the active programs provided in the reproducing engine 12. In thiscase, the active program (or tool) being operated is called a “BDEnhanced Browser/Viewer”. Alternatively, when the display Mode C isdecided, and when the input signal is decided as a set of DTV enhanceddata, a Call API “DTV_Enhanced_Browser( )” is, transmitted to thereproducing engine 12, thereby operating a tool for displaying the DTVenhanced data among the active programs provided in the reproducingengine 12. In this case, the active program (or tool) being operated iscalled a “DTV Enhanced Browser/Viewer”.

As described above, when a Java program provides the enhanced data, a“Java module” becomes the active program. FIGS. 3 and 4 are examples ofdisplaying only one signal onto the final display 20, wherein the signalis one of the AV stream and the enhanced data, respectively.Accordingly, only one corresponding control command (Call API) existsherein. FIGS. 5 to 9 illustrate the reproduction method and device fordisplay Mode B according to the present invention. In the display ModeB, different types of input signals are displayed onto a single display20, and the input signals are then categorized into a plurality ofdisplay types, which will now be described in detail.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of an actual display screen of displayMode B. Herein, the display 20 includes an AV stream display area 21 andan enhanced data display area 22. Generally, the enhanced data displayarea 22 is executed as a background picture of the entire display 20,and the AV stream display area 21 is represented as a window on one sideof the display 20. However, such display screen is only an example of awide range of display screens. For example, the AV stream display area21 may be executed as the background picture of the entire display 20,and the enhanced data display area 22 may be represented as a window onone side of the display 20.

When representing the above-described display Mode B, a plurality ofdisplay screen is formed, wherein each of the display screens isdifferent from one another depending upon the type of inputted signal.In the description of the present invention, each of the display screenswill be referred to as a display type. Accordingly, each of the sourceof the AV stream signal and the source of the enhanced data signalrespectively consists of a DTV signal and a BD playback signal. Thus, atotal of four display types exist, which are referred to as display type(1), display type (2), display type (3), and display type (4). Morespecifically, in the display type (1), the source of both the AV streamand the enhanced data is the DTV signal. In the display type (2), thesource of the AV stream is the DTV signal and the source of the enhanceddata is the BD playback signal. In the display type (3), the source ofthe AV stream is the BD playback signal and the source of the enhanceddata is the DTV signal. And, finally, in the display type (4), thesource of both the AV stream and the enhanced data is the BD playbacksignal.

Hereinafter, a method and apparatus for controlling display for eachdisplay type will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6to 9. FIG. 6 illustrates a reproducing method and device of the displayMode B type (1) in the optical recording and reproducing apparatusaccording to the present invention. As described above, in the displaytype (1), the source of both the AV stream and the enhanced data is theDTV signal. Accordingly, each of the selection means 11 a and 11 bselects the corresponding input signal. Then, in accordance with thedisplay type (1), the controller 14 transmits control commands (CallAPI), so as to execute the “DTV AV Presentation engine” in the AVpresentation engine 12 a and to execute the “DTV EnhancedBrowser/Viewer” in the browser/viewer 12 b, respectively. Morespecifically, since the AV stream is displayed as a window within thedisplay 20, the Call APIs would be a “DTV_AV_Window_Player( )” and a“DTV_Enhanced_Browser ( )”. The reproducing engine 12 that receives theCall API executes the active program, which is designated by the CallAPI, thereby providing a picture suitable for a final display type (1).

FIG. 7 illustrates a reproducing method and device of the display Mode Btype (2) in the optical recording and reproducing apparatus according tothe present invention. As described above, in the display type (2), thesource of the AV stream is the DTV signal and the source of the enhanceddata is the BD playback signal. Accordingly, each of the selection means11 a and 11 b selects the corresponding input signal. Then, inaccordance with the display type (2), the controller 14 transmitscontrol commands (Call API), so as to execute the “DTV AV Presentationengine” in the AV presentation engine 12 a and to execute the “BDEnhanced Browser/Viewer” in the browser/viewer 12 b, respectively. Morespecifically, since the AV stream is displayed as a window within thedisplay 20, the Call APIs would be a “DTV_AV_Window_Player( )” and a“BD_Enhanced_Browser( )”. The reproducing engine 12 that receives theCall API executes the active program, which is designated by the CallAPI, thereby providing a picture suitable for a final display type (2).

Most particularly, since the display type (2) is an applicable displaytype, the digital broadcast program producer may provide auxiliaryadditional information of the DTV AV stream in a BD-ROM as enhanceddata. And, in this case, the user may reproduce the DTV AV stream andsimultaneously reproduce the enhanced data within the BD playback signalthat is associated with the AV stream being reproduced. Accordingly, theDTV AV stream and the enhanced data are displayed onto a single stream,thereby facilitating the viewing of the broadcast program.

FIG. 8 illustrates a reproducing method and device of the display Mode Btype (3) in the optical recording and reproducing apparatus according tothe present invention. As described above, in the display type (3), thesource of the AV stream is the BD playback signal and the source of theenhanced data is the DTV signal. Accordingly, each of the selectionmeans 11 a and 11 b selects the corresponding input signal. Then, inaccordance with the display type (3), the controller 14 transmitscontrol commands (Call API), so as to execute the “BD AV PlaybackControl engine” in the AV presentation engine 12 a and to execute the“DTV Enhanced Browser/Viewer” in the browser/viewer 12 b, respectively.More specifically, since the AV stream is displayed as a window withinthe display 20, the Call APIs would be a “BD_AV_Window_Player( )” and a“DTV_Enhanced_Browser( )”. The reproducing engine 12 that receives theCall API executes the active program, which is designated by the CallAPI, thereby providing a picture suitable for a final display type (3).

FIG. 9 illustrates a reproducing method and device of the display Mode Btype (4) in the optical recording and reproducing apparatus according tothe present invention. As described above, in the display type (4), thesource of both the AV stream and the enhanced data is the BD playbacksignal. Accordingly, each of the selection means 11 a and 11 b selectsthe corresponding input signal. Then, in accordance with the displaytype (4), the controller 14 transmits control commands (Call API), so asto execute the “BD AV Playback Control engine” in the AV presentationengine 12 a and to execute the “BD Enhanced Browser/Viewer” in thebrowser/viewer 12 b, respectively. More specifically, since the AVstream is displayed as a window within the display 20, the Call APIswould be a “BD_AV_Window_Player( )” and a “BD_Enhanced_Browser( )”. Thereproducing engine 12 that receives the Call API executes the activeprogram, which is designated by the Call API, thereby providing apicture suitable for a final display type (4).

FIG. 10 illustrates a table showing the various types of Call APIsapplicable to each of the display Mode A, display Mode B, and displayMode C, which are controlled according to the present invention.Detailed description of the types of Call APIs and the correspondingoperations are given with reference to FIGS. 3 to 9, and henceforth,description of the same will be briefly mentioned. More specifically, inthe example of the Call API given in FIG. 10, the external input signalis limited to a DTV signal for simplicity of the description. And, it isapparent that when the external input signal is changed to a differentmedium, the reference name of the medium will also be changed.

The Call API applicable to the display Mode A, which displays only theAV stream, may be one of “BD_AV_Player( )” and “DTV_AV_Player( )”.Alternatively, the Call API applicable to the display Mode C, whichdisplays only the enhanced data, may be one of “BD_Enhanced_Browser ( )”and “DTV_Enhanced_Browser ( )”. And, finally, the Call API applicable tothe display Mode B, which displays both the AV stream and the enhanceddata, may be a combination of one of “BD_AV_Window_Player ( )” and“DTV_AV_Window_Player ( )” and one of “BD_Enhanced_Browser ( )” and“DTV_Enhanced_Browser ( )”. In the display Mode B, when the AV stream isdisplayed as a background picture and the enhanced data is displayed asa window, the Call API may additionally require“BD_Enhanced_Window_Browser ( )” and “DTV_Enhanced_Window_Browser ( )”but will not be illustrated in the drawing.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate a method of using a set of menu informationrecorded within the optical disc, when controlling the display accordingto the present invention. FIG. 11 illustrates the structure of theread-only blu-ray disc (BD-ROM) 30 and also illustrates a display menuscreen related to the present invention among the main menu screensprovided to the user, when the BD-ROM is loaded in the optical recordingand reproducing apparatus 10. The disc structure of the BD-ROM 30 willnow be described in detail.

Starting from the inner circumference (or center) of the disc, the discvolume includes a file system information area, a database area, and amain data area. More specifically, the file system information areaincludes information on types and attributes of the files existingwithin the disc. The database area includes diverse applicationinformation for using the main data, and the main data area includesactual user information. Generally, AV streams are mainly recordedwithin the main data area, and enhanced data are included in combinationwithin the beginning or mid-portion of the AV stream.

Also, an Index Table including user-selectable menu information isincluded as the application information recorded in the database area,and PlayList files and Clip files are included as files havingreproduction control information for reproducing the main data. Morespecifically, when creating the Index Table, display menu information isalso included in the present invention. Accordingly, other fileinformation may also be recorded as the display menu information,instead of the Index Table, and such application is not limited to thepresent invention.

In other words, when the optical disc 30 is loaded, the opticalrecording and reproducing apparatus 10 creates a menu screen from theIndex Table of the loaded optical disc. Herein, the display menu screenrelated to the present invention is included in the menu, and therefore,the user is able to select a desired display mode by using the menuscreen. However, when using a specific type of disc, the display menumay be omitted, and the author may record in advance an enforced commandfor a specific display mode, which relates to the automatic selection ofa display mode by an author request, shown in FIG. 2.

In continuation from the description of FIG. 11, FIG. 12 illustrates anexample of selecting a specific display mode, which is desired by theuser, from the display menu screen and also illustrates the displaycontrol operation after the selection of the display mode. When the userselects “BD Enhanced Data+DTV AV stream” (i.e., Mode B Type (2)) as thedisplay mode (user-selection {circle around (1)}), the controller 14 ofthe optical recording and reproducing apparatus 10 generates a controlcommand (Call API), i.e., control API {circle around (2)}, and the callAPI consists of DTV_AV_Window_Player( ) and BD_Enhanced_Browserdepending upon the display mode selected by the user. The active programis operated in accordance with the control command (Call API). Then, thedisplay is controlled so that a user-selected display mode is created onthe final display 20 through the display pre-processing unit 13 withinthe optical recording and reproducing apparatus 10 (Display control{circle around (3)}.

In addition, even when the display mode is decided by the initialselection of the user, the display mode may be changed to anotherdisplay mode during reproduction. And, the display mode may be changedby generating a new control command (Call API). More specifically, whenthe user wishes to change the display mode from display Mode B, wherebyall of the AV stream and enhanced data are displayed, to display Mode A,whereby only the AV streams are displayed, the controller 14 generates anew control command, such as BD_AV_Player( ) or DTV_AV_Player( ), so asto change the display mode into a display mode for displaying only theAV streams.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it isintended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention provides a control method and reproducingapparatus for controlling reproduction of an external input signalincluding mass amount high density recording medium reproducing signalsand digital broadcast signals within the optical recording andreproducing apparatus. And, the present invention is advantageous inthat mutual application between newly developed high density recordingmedium (e.g., BD-ROM) and peripheral apparatuses can be enhanced, andthat effective and convenient functions can be provided to the users.

1. In reproducing a set of external input data and a set of internalrecording medium data, a reproducing method of a recording mediumreproducing device, comprising: selecting at least one of the set ofexternal input data and the set of internal recording medium data;executing at least one reproducing engine so as to reproduce theselected data in accordance with an attribute of the selected data; anddisplaying the data reproduced through the reproducing engine.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein each of the external input data and theinternal recording medium data comprises at least one set of AV streamand one set of enhanced data.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein thereproducing engine includes a reproducing engine for AV streams and areproducing engine for enhanced data.
 4. The method of claim 2, whereinthe enhanced data is provided as a Java program.
 5. The method of claim2, wherein the reproducing engine reproducing the enhanced data, whichis provided as a Java program, is a Java module.
 6. The method of claim4, wherein the Java program is able to control AV stream reproduction.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the external input data is a digitalbroadcast signal, and the internal recording medium data is a signalreproduced from a read-only blu-ray disc (BD-ROM).
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a control command (Call API) for executing each of theat least one reproducing engine is included separately.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the reproducing engine is represented as a software.10. The method of claim 1, wherein the reproducing engine is representedas a hardware.
 11. The method of claim 3, wherein the reproducing engineincludes an AV player for executing the AV stream, and a browser forexecuting the enhanced data.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein each ofthe AV player and the browser separately includes an AV player fordigital broadcasting, an AV player for reproducing an internal recordingmedium, a browser for digital broadcasting, and a browser forreproducing an internal recording medium, respectively.
 13. The methodof claim 12, wherein a control command (Call API) controls each of theat least one reproducing engine, and wherein the reproducing engineexecuted by the control command (Call API) includes the AV player fordigital broadcasting and the browser for reproducing the internalrecording medium.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the enhanced datathat is reproduced from the browser for reproducing the internalrecording medium is auxiliary to the AV stream that is reproduced fromthe AV player for digital broadcasting.
 15. The method of claim 14,wherein the enhanced data being reproduced from the browser forreproducing the internal recording medium is provided by an author ofthe digital broadcasting.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein at leastone control command (Call API) is separately included so as to executeeach of the at least one reproducing engine, and wherein the at leastone reproducing engine executed by the corresponding control command(Call API) includes the AV player for reproducing the internal recordingmedium and the browser for digital broadcasting.
 17. The method of claim12, wherein at least one control command (Call API) is separatelyincluded so as to execute each of the at least one reproducing engine,and wherein the at least one reproducing engine executed by thecorresponding control command (Call API) includes the AV player forreproducing the internal recording medium and the browser forreproducing the internal recording medium.
 18. The method of claim 12,wherein at least one control command (Call API) is separately includedso as to execute each of the at least one reproducing engine, andwherein the at least one reproducing engine executed by thecorresponding control command (Call API) includes the AV player fordigital broadcasting and the browser for digital broadcasting.
 19. Inreproducing a set of external input data and a set of internal recordingmedium data, a reproducing method of a recording medium reproducingdevice, comprising: a selection unit selecting at least one set of theexternal input data and the internal recording medium data as inputsignal; at least one reproducing engine reproducing the selected data inaccordance with an attribute of the selected data; and a controllertransmitting a control command to the selection unit, so as to selectthe input signal, when a desired display mode is decided, andtransmitting another control command so as to execute a reproducingengine suitable for the decided display mode among the at least onereproducing engine.
 20. In a method of controlling display of a set ofexternal input data and a set of internal recording medium data, adisplay control method within a recording medium reproducing devicecomprising: providing a plurality of reproducing engines correspondingto each attribute of a set of data being reproduced; and when a desireddisplay mode is decided, generating at least one control command (CallAPI) so as to execute a reproducing engine suitable for the decideddisplay mode among the at least one reproducing engine.
 21. In arecording medium reproducing device provided with a plurality ofreproducing engines corresponding to each attribute of a set of databeing reproduced, so as to control display of the data being reproduced,a display control method within a recording medium reproducing devicecomprising: providing a user-selectable display mode, when the recordingmedium is loaded; and when executing a specific display mode inaccordance with a user-selection, generating at least one controlcommand (Call API) so as to execute a reproducing engine suitable forthe user-selected display mode among the at least one reproducingengine.
 22. In a recording medium reproducing device provided with aplurality of reproducing engines corresponding to each attribute of aset of data being reproduced, so as to control display of the data beingreproduced, a display control method within a recording mediumreproducing device comprising: receiving a display mode change commandduring reproduction of the recording medium; and depending upon a newlydesired display mode, generating at least one control command (Call API)so as to execute a reproducing engine suitable for the display modechange command among the at least one reproducing engine.
 23. In arecording medium including an area for recording main data and an areafor recording menu information corresponding to the main data, therecording medium comprising: a display menu recorded in the menuinformation, so as to enable a user to select a display mode for a setof external input data and also for the main data recorded in therecording medium.
 24. The recording medium of claim 23, wherein thedisplay menu comprises a display mode for displaying a set of enhanceddata within the recording medium and an AV stream within the externalinput signal in combination.
 25. The recording medium of claim 23,wherein the recording medium is a read-only blu-ray disc (BD-ROM).